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There is so much to learn when you start geocaching. Much of it can only be learned by experiencing it, but there are some specifics things it helps to understand before you jump in. Here are ten tips for geocaching beginners.

Read Basics of Geocaching to learn how to get started geocaching. You will need to set up an account and download the app before you are ready to head outside and start searching for those hidden caches. Once you have those basics accomplished, you are ready to head out the door and start logging some finds. Here is some additional information for geocaching beginners.

Have you ever been in a pretty good place with your weight loss plan but were suddenly derailed when you saw tempting food? Have you found yourself eating something you had no intention to simply because it was right in front of you? How do you deal with tempting food that is right in front of you? Flee temptation!

At our church there is a snack table off by the wall. On the way into the sanctuary I never even notice it because I have so many people to greet and hug and talk to. But on the way out, it’s right in my line of sight. My eyes fall on that display of snacks first when I walk out of the sanctuary because it is right in front of me.

Once my eyes fall on it, I feel drawn to it. Since I am committed to two things: 1) not eating sugary snacks and 2) not eating between meals, I turn my eyes, turn my head, and keep walking toward the exit. If I stop, it is to talk to someone and I keep my eyes on them and off the snack table.

Sharing my recent weight loss

Today I experienced the encouragement and uplifting that could only come from balcony people.

I was with two of my good, like-minded friends this mornng, both serious vegans, and I shared my recent weight loss success. I lost a couple of pounds this last week, got off my plateau (of 6 months), and dipped down into what I call a new decade. I left the 170’s and entered the 160’s. It is the first time in over 25 years my scale started with a 1 and a 6 and not a 17.. or a 18.. or even a 19…

Since the only accurate long-term weight records I have are my medical records, I seriously considered calling the doctor’s office and asking them to verify my weight from my visits for the past 30 years. But I just couldn’t justify that as good use of a medical professional’s time. By thinking back over the years, I know it was before my last two children were born that I was in the 160’s, so that makes it about 25 years.

My cheerleader

When I shared my success with my two friends, I received a” way to go”, a “Wahoo!”, and some cheering, but was fairly surprised at the enthusiasm of one friend who can only be described as skinny. She even came over and hugged me!

One evening a few weeks ago my daughter called and asked if we wanted to go geocaching with them. I said, “Sure! What’s geocaching?” This is a beginner’s guide to geocaching. I will share with you what we learned from my daughter and her husband and from my own research and experience geocaching. We have a few weeks and about 50 finds under our belt at this point, and we enjoy sharing our new hobby with others. So here are the basics of geocaching.

Since ’empty nest’ is the name of our new season of life, I have been reading some books relating to having an empty nest. I recently read Going Gypsy by David and Veronica James and I highly recommend it. This is a review of Going Gypsy, a delightful book.

I read this delightful, inspiring book in an afternoon. Delightful because it is well-written and enjoyable to read. Inspiring because it opened doors in my mind to the possibilities, the what-ifs, the why-don’t-we?

What do I mean? This couple is facing the emptying of their nest when their third child leaves for college. Veronica is a self-diagnosed helicopter mom. Anticipating life with no children to hover over, she takes the empty nest harder than her husband David.

So what did they do? They got rid of the nest! They sold their home and took up life traveling the United States in an old RV. Along the way, they reconnected with friends and family and saw the US and its beauty.

I have been on a weight loss journey for the last 10 months. In theory, I have been on a weight loss journey the last 40 or so years; in reality, in the last nine months I have actually lost about 28 lb. I want to share the motivation for my weight loss journey.

At this point everyone wants to know, how did you do it? I want to answer a different question, one that I never get asked. I want to answer why I did it, what was my motivation.

An engagement!

My daughter got engaged October 31st, 2016 with the wedding set for December 16th 2017. My plan was to buy a dress with a long jacket over it to elongate my appearance, something dressy but comfortable. You know, kind of like Maude used to wear on the Golden Girls. Preferably navy, which happened to be one of my daughter’s wedding colors. But she had a different idea. She wanted me to wear a long dress in a champagne or blush color. I tried some on at the bridal store where she bought her wedding dress, but I felt like an overweight old lady wearing a prom dress, which is not a good look an anyone!

Ten Ways To Adjust To Life With An Empty Nest

Our nest is almost empty. In a few weeks are youngest child leaves for college. Our other four children are out on their own and now the last one is walking out the door. He signed a 12-month lease on an apartment and, as fiercely independent as he is, we know he will likely never move back home. Since his older four siblings are already married we will never, unless unforeseen circumstances occur, have children living in our home again. We will have an empty nest.

This is difficult for me to wrap my mind around. My identity for so long has been wife and mom. Homeschool mom. We have lived with children so much longer than we lived alone, 31 years compared to a few.

Another factor is that we are a very close family. I not only raised five kids, I was also their teacher. We spent a huge amount of time together when they were growing up, right up through their teen years.

When I left my office job and started cleaning houses, I had a bad attitude about it. I didn’t even want to tell people what I was doing for work. One conversation completely changed my thinking and I went from being ashamed to taking pride in my cleaning business.